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ISWAP executes aid worker in Borno

Lukman ABOLADE
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ISWAP executes aid worker in Borno

THE ISLAMIC STATE West Africa Province, a faction of the Boko Haram terrorist group, has allegedly executed one of the six  Action Against Hunger (AAH)’s workers abducted near Damasak town in Borno state on July 18.

ISWAP claimed the government deceived them after it reported to have opened secret negotiations with ISWAP through secret officials to ensure the release of the aid workers.

According to Ahmad Salkida, a renowned reporter of conflict and terrorism, the execution of the male aid worker was done in close range in a video clip made available to him.

“ISWAP has also threatened to execute the other remaining staff of the International Non-governmental Organization (ACF/AAH),” he tweeted.

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Head of UN Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Nigeria, Peter Ekayu earlier last month said in 10 years, 37 aid workers had lost their lives to terrorist attacks in north-eastern Nigeria.

This recent execution raised the number of victims to thirty eight in ten years by the insurgent.

Salkida noted that the Nigerian Army declared the INGO persona non-grata last week for aiding terrorism in the region which forced the  Action Against Hunger to suspend all their activities in Nigeria.

AAH insisted that they are committed to delivering neutral, impartial, independent to millions of people in Borno and that decision of the Nigerian Army without notice or explanation jeopardises the assistance they provide to the vulnerable people of the state.

Absence of witness stalls trial of ex-Adamawa governor involved in N29 billion fraud

Amos ABBA
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Absence of witness stalls trial of ex-Adamawa governor involved in N29 billion fraud

ON Tuesday, the Federal High Court, sitting in Abuja adjourned the trial of former governor of Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako for alleged money laundering to the tune of N29 billion.

The presiding judge,  O.E. Abang granted the adjournment to allow the prosecution team examine the available evidence and produce a credible witness before a subsequent hearing on the matter, which has been slated for October 29 and 30.

Nyako, who served as Adamawa State governor between 2011 to 2014 before he was impeached, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, alongside his son, Abdulaziz Nyako, Abubakar Aliyu and Zulkifik Abba on a 37-count charge of criminal conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and money laundering.

At the resumed hearing, prosecution counsel, Oluwaleke Afolagbe, told the court that the prosecution needed an adjournment on the matter to be able to produce its witness.

“We still think we should put the witness in the box but the information we have is that the said witness is out of the country to the UK and that he is sick and receiving treatment.

He explained that one of the witnesses was no more in the picture because he could not be found, revealing that the prosecution has made several efforts that proved abortive.

“I apologise to the court that we are not able to produce our witness. We also apologise to the senior counsel to the defendant,” he said.

He disclosed that after the third adjournments on the matter, all efforts by the prosecution to bring the witness to the dock have been thwarted by the continued absence of the witness.

Defence counsel, Ibrahim Ishaku, opposed the application for adjournment, reminding the court that there was a pending application with respect for the release of the international passport of the defendant, which was dated September 20, 2019.

“My lord, we oppose the adjournment by the prosecution. The learned senior counsel had explained that they have two more witnesses, so if one is not present, another should be around.

“If the prosecution had witnesses, four months is enough for them to produce the witness and the liberty of the defendant is at stake. This is a criminal matter, we, therefore, oppose the application and urge the court to disapprove and adjourn the matter for us to open our defence,” Ishaku stated.

In his pronouncement, Justice Abang ordered the court’s chief registrar to release the international passport of the second defendant, Abdulaziz Nyako to enable him to travel to Ghana to see his family.

He stated that he shall return to the country on or before September 30, 2019, and that upon his return, he would deposit his international passport with the chief registrar of the court pending the conclusion of the trial.

Social Media cannot be allowed to continue fueling religious, racist and fake messages – BUHARI

Lukman ABOLADE
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Social Media cannot be allowed to continue fueling religious, racist and fake messages – BUHARI

President Muhammadu Buhari has called on technology companies to be aware of their responsibilities.

He made this call while addressing World Leaders at the 74th United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday.

Buhari was the fifth speaker at the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

While delivering his speech, the president said the massacre in New Zealand by a lone gunman that claimed the lives of 50 worshipers was fueled by social media networks.

He said the crime and similar ones were fueled by social media networks that risk seeping into an emerging digital culture.

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He said “Major tech companies must be alive to their responsibilities.

They cannot be allowed to continue to facilitate the spread of religious, racist, xenophobic and false messages capable of inciting whole communities against each other, leading to loss of many lives“.

During his speech, he also stated that millions of people in Africa remain in abject poverty despite the growth in world economic riches.

Buhari also thanked the General Assembly for the honour bestowed on the Government and people of Nigeria by electing a Nigerian national, His Excellency, Tijjani Muhammad-Bande to the Presidency of the 74th Session of the august body.

“This is indeed a great honour to our country! Nigerians are truly grateful and shall endeavour to live up to the expectations and responsibilities thrust upon us,” he said.

The president concluded his speech by affirming that Nigeria is committed to promoting International Peace and security with sustainable development.

What Nigerians should expect from govt after its commitment to Universal Health Coverage

Rebecca Akinremi
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What Nigerians should expect from govt after its commitment to Universal Health Coverage

ON Monday, the member states of the United Nations adopted a political declaration on universal health coverage (UHC) which sought after quality health for all population.

The 193 countries, including Nigeria, chose health for all at the high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on Monday.

“We, Heads of State and Government,…reaffirm that health is a precondition for and an outcome and indicator of the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development and the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and strongly recommit to achieve universal health coverage by 2030,” introductory to the declaration read partly.

Universal health coverage means all individuals and communities are able to access the health services they need – from health promotion to prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and palliative care – without suffering financial hardship.

“Universal health coverage is a political choice: today world leaders have signalled their readiness to make that choice,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s Director-General while welcoming the action.

In this regard, the Nigerian government and others are committed to scale up its efforts and to implement actions which will make them achieve UHC by 2030.

The ICIR highlights health provisions Nigerians should be expecting from the government. The highlights are among what the government already committed itself to do on health on Monday.

Reduce out-of-pocket health expenditure, increase budgetary allocation

A stop in the rise of out-of-pocket expenditure is part of the commitments made on Monday.

Out-of-pocket health spending, according to WHO, is the direct payment made by individuals to health care at the time of service use. It affects the ability of households and individuals to meet basic needs and push many below the poverty line.

The Nigerian government is expected to reduce health-related expenses by implementing measures that will assure financial risk protection for all throughout the life course with emphasis on the poor as well as those who are vulnerable or in vulnerable situations.

It also signed for better budgetary allocation for the health with adequate financing for primary health care.

Nigerians are supposed to enjoy quality, safe, effective, affordable and essential health services, medicines, vaccines, diagnostics and health technologies without financial barriers by 2030, according to the declaration.

The former minister of health, Isaac Adewole had said in 2017 that “25per cent of households spend more than 10 per cent of their household consumption on health a sign that more people were prone to poverty traps if they fall ill”.

He had added that 75 per cent of total health expenditures in Nigeria is estimated to be from individuals out-of-pocket.

Expand vaccine coverage, prevent maternal and child mortality

The Nigerian government has also pledged to expand vaccine coverage in order to prevent the spread of diseases such as measles, cholera, tuberculosis and meningitis.

It is obligated to improve routine immunisation and vaccination capacities. It also committed to addressing maternal and child mortality and diseases.

Nigerian women are thus expected to have ease in accessing quality health-care services before, during and after pregnancy, after childbirth. This is to minimise maternal, infant, neonatal and child mortality and morbidity.

According to a UNICEF and WHO report in July 2019, 20 million children missed out life-saving vaccine globally in 2018. Of this 20 million, Nigeria has the highest figure with three million children not vaccinated.

Faisal Shuaib, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) said in April 2019 that not less than 2,300 children under five years of age die daily in the country from preventable causes.

He also approximated that 145 Nigerian women die from causes related to pregnancy and childbirth.

Prioritise Primary Health Care, build people-centred health systems

“Expand the delivery of and prioritize primary health care as a cornerstone of a sustainable people-centred, community-based and integrated health systems,” a part read.

The Nigerian government has also chosen to strengthen the referral system between primary and other levels of care which are secondary and tertiary health care.

It also signed up for people-centred health systems where people could access safe and quality health services and medical products that are delivered in a timely, equitable, efficient and integrated manner.

The provision will be “built on a foundation of strong primary health care and coherent national policies and strategies for quality and safe health services.

So with the Nigerian government’s commitment to the universal health coverage, good health should be a right in the country by 2030 and not a privilege.

Atiku, PDP appeal Election Tribunal judgment

Lukman ABOLADE
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Atiku, PDP appeal Election Tribunal judgment

PRESIDENTIAL candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019 general election has approached the Supreme Court to challenge the September 11 ruling of the Presidential Tribunal in favor of Muhammadu Buhari.

PDP and Atiku have filed an appeal on 66 grounds stating that the Presidential Election Petition Court constituted of Mohammed Garba, Abdu Aboki, Joseph Shagbaor,Ikyegh, Peter Olabisi, Samuel Oseji “err in law”.

The tribunal upheld Muhammadu Buhari’s victory in the February 23 Presidential Election discarding Atiku’s petition for inability to prove satisfactorily all the allegations brought before it.

PDP and Atiku filed a notice of appeal to the Supreme Court stating that they are dissatisfied with the judgement of the Court of Appeal seated as Presidential Election Petition Court.

“In furtherance of our desire to reclaim the popular mandate of Nigerians freely given to our Presidential Candidate, Atiku  Abubakar and Peter Obi, the Party and its candidates have filed a 66 Grounds of appeal at the Supreme Court” as contained in a statement by PDP.

Some of the ground of appeal read, Ground 1: ERROR IN LAW
The Learned Justices of the Court of Appeal erred in law when they relied on “overall interest of justice” to hold that the 2nd Respondent’s Exhibits R1 to R26, P85 and P86 were properly admitted in evidence.

Ground 2 of the Appeal Read: ERROR IN LAW
The Learned Justices of the Court of Appeal erred in law when they held thus:

“My firm view is that Section 76 of the Electoral Act is clearly inapplicable to the issues under consideration. The form referred to are the form to be used in the conduct of the election as FORM CF001 had been taken care of in Section 31 of the Electoral Act and the said FORM CF001 is tied to the steps laid down in the said Section 31 of the Electoral Act.

More importantly, the law is firmly settled that a candidate is not required by the Constitution or the Electoral Act to attach his certificates to FORM CF001 before the candidate can be considered or adjudged to have the requisite educational qualifications to contest an election.

The appeal continued with other 64 grounds on which the Muhammed Garba-led tribunal had “err in law”.

52-days after, Sowore granted bail

Olayinka SHEHU
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52-days after, Sowore granted bail

The Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Tuesday has granted bail to the convener of RevolutionNow, Omoyele Sowore.

Justice Taiwo Taiwo made the ruling after listening to the argument of Sowore’s lawyer and the prosecuting counsel, J.O Agbadua.

Sowore was released to the custody of his counsel, Femi Falana, SAN.

The judge also as part of bail conditions, asked Sowore to drop his passport with the court within 48 hours.

The court, according to TVC had earlier struck out an application by the Department of Social Security (DSS) to further detain Sowore.

Sowore was arrested on August 3rd, by the DSS two days before a rally tagged Revolutionnow.

 

FIRS: We did not give Osinbajo N90 billion for election campaign

Jennifer UGWA
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FIRS: We did not give Osinbajo N90 billion for election campaign

THE Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on Monday has denied funding the 2019 election campaign to the tune of N90 billion

Timi Frank, a former deputy spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had claimed that issues involving Vice President Yemi Osinbanjo and the presidency had started when the latter could not give an accurate account of the N90 billion earmarked for election campaign which was provided by the FIRS for election purposes.

However, Wahab Gbadamosi, FIRS’ director of information in a statement has dismissed the allegation. He claimed that the service annual allocation was not even up to the amount mentioned.

“The attention of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, has been drawn to publication in some online and daily newspapers by a certain Comrade Timi Frank, the former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who claimed that the FIRS supported the APC, through the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo with a phantom N90 billion,” the statement read.

“The service called the allegation a mendacious, wicked, malicious and a calculated attempt to smear the image of the Service and that of his Excellency, the Vice President

“This campaign of calumny and vilifying false claims are entirely libelous, unfounded in fact, irresponsible and a brazen assault on the integrity of the Service as a responsible and accountable organisation and demonstrates an abysmal ignorance of the budgetary and expenditure process of the FIRS.

“That in the last four years since Mr. Tunde Fowler has supervised operations at the FIRS, the agency had not received up to N100 billion, per annum,  as Cost of Collection from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee, FAAC. FAAC is a public institution, whose records are open to the public.

“That it is from the remittances from FAAC—which had never grossed up to N100 billion, PER ANNUM, that FIRS pays the salary and emoluments and trains it’s over 8000 staff, runs over 150 offices and provides for other needs of the Service.

“That given the above, IT IS NOT PLAUSIBLE nor DOES IT MAKE ANY SENSE that FIRS will commit its resources to a phantom campaign of N90 billion as suggested by Mr Timi Frank and FIRS does not fund political associations.

“That FIRS is a creation of statute and its activities are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and financial regulations and thus, IT IS NOT PLAUSIBLE, that its funds could be expended in such a cavalier manner as suggested by Mr Timi Frank.

“That FIRS Budget and expenditure approval processes pass through the Budget Office and the Ministry of Finance before such is presented to the National Assembly for Appropriation into Law. The National Assembly committees, consisting of all parties and inclinations exercise oversight function on all agencies of the Federal Government to ensure agencies keep to the letters of the Appropriation Act.

“Thus FIRS’ operations are subjected to Scrutiny and close monitoring by the National Assembly, the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee and the Ministry of Finance.

“It is therefore unthinkable, malicious and irresponsible for the said Frank to insinuate or infer that N90 billion or any part thereof could be spent illegally and without budgetary approval.”

FIRS has demanded an apology from Frank to be published in three leading newspaper within 24hours or it would take legal actions against him.

However, Frank in another statement Tuesday morning said he would not back down and ready to go to court.

“I cannot be intimidated by threats. I am prepared to meet them in court. Why are they crying more than the bereaved if they have nothing to hide?

“Why did they decide to respond on behalf of the vice president, who is the main issue here? Is the FIRS now Osinbajo’s mouthpiece?” he said.

 

 

IPC at 20: Ogunleye, Durodola, Ibanga join governing board

Abeeb ALAWIYE
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IPC at 20: Ogunleye, Durodola, Ibanga join governing board

AS the organisation prepares to mark the 20th anniversary of its establishment in October, 1999, The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria, has announced the reconstitution of its Governing Board.

The Executive Director and Secretary to the Board, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, disclosed this at the end of the organisation’s board meeting and annual staff/management retreat held  in Lagos on September 20 and 21.

He said the three new members of the Board bring its total number to six.

The three new members are:

• Ms. Victoria Ibanga, a seasoned journalist, is a former Visiting Fellow of Freedom House in the United States and Alumna of Women’s Edition, PRB, USA. She is a former General Secretary of the Nigerian Guild of Editors, current National Treasurer of the body and the Managing Director and Editor-in-Chief of Next Edition Online newspaper;

• Mrs. Funke-Treasure Durodola, a multiple award-winning international broadcast journalist, is a seasoned news anchor, producer and presenter, media trainer and Fellow of the Thomson Foundation, UK. She is the author of ‘Pronunciation Guide for Second Language Speakers of the English Language’ and until her recent retirement, Assistant Director of Programmes at the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Lagos Operations;

• Mr. Gbemiga Ogunleye, a lawyer, seasoned journalist and Editor. He is a former Editor and Deputy Editor-In-Chief of Punch Newspapers and a former Director of News and Current Affairs at Television Continental, TVC. He was the pioneer Head of Corporate Communications of Arik Air and a former Vice President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors. Mr. Ogunleye is the current Provost of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Nigeria’s leading journalism training institution.

According to him, both Mr. Edetaen Ojo and Mr. Wale Adeoye retain their positions on the Board as Chairman and member respectively, while Senator. Babafemi Ojudu, journalist, human rights activist and one of the founding Editors of The News Magazine and Special Assistant to the President on Political Affairs, voluntarily stepped down as a member on the account of his current political engagements.

Mr. Edetaen Ojo, a journalist and former editor Judiciary Desk at The Guardian newspapers, is a renowned advocate for the right of access to information. He was honoured by the African Platform on Access to Information (APAI) with an award for freedom of information activism in 2011 while in 2017 he got the Lifetime Award for Journalistic Excellence of the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism. He is the Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda and Chair of the Board of the Media Foundation for West Africa of which IPC is national partner in Nigeria.

Mr. Wale Adeoye, an environmental rights activist, is an award-winning journalist who has previously worked with The Punch and The Nation Newspapers. He is a four-time winner of the Nigerian Merit Award (NMMA), first Nigerian to win the Steve Biko Scholarship instituted by Institute for Advanced Journalism (IAJ), South Africa and Alumni of the United Nations Institute for Research and Training, (UNITAR), Cologne Switzerland. A former CNN African Journalist of the year and winner of the Diamond Media Merit Award, he is the Executive Director of Journalists for Democratic Rights.

Mr. Lanre Arogundade, the founding Coordinator of IPC and newly designated Executive Director by the Board, has worked across the print, broadcast (Radio) and Online media including the National Concord, Vanguard newspapers, Panos Radio and Voice of America as a journalist. A media development specialist with passion for media professionalism and independence, he is also a media trainer, researcher, advocate for freedom of the press and author of ‘Media and Elections: The Professional Responsibilities of Journalists’.

“The scholarly, intellectual, professional and gender diversity of the new Board demonstrates the commitment and readiness of IPC to continue to deliver on its mandate as Nigeria’s leading media development and press freedom organisation,” Mr. Arogundade said.

“We are also sure that given their vast experience and commitment to media professionalism, the board members will add value to our work in the areas of capacity building, media monitoring, campaigns, advocacy, networking and partnerships to advance the course of media freedom, media independence, safety of journalists and enhance the role of the media in development and democratic governance”, he added.

According to him, the board members would be publicly presented during the forthcoming public lecture and airing of a documentary as part of a series of activities to commemorate the 20-year anniversary of IPC, the details of which will be announced soon.

Minimum Wage: NLC Dismisses rumoured N30,000 payment implementation

Lukman ABOLADE
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Minimum Wage: NLC Dismisses rumoured N30,000 payment implementation

THE NIGERIA Labour Congress (NLC) has dismissed rumours that the Federal Government has begun payment of N30, 000 minimum wages.

According to the nation online, the Federal Government has started the payment of N30,000 minimum wage with officers on grade levels 01 to 06 on the federal payroll and they were paid the new minimum wage as their August salary.

Nigeria Labour Congress Head of Information, Benson Upah confirmed to The ICIR that he is unaware of the development.

He said there is no way the Federal Government will pay some tier of workers and not pay others and that he is never aware of the development.

Nigeria Civil Service Union Ag. General Secretary, Yahaya Idris Ndako also told  The ICIR that he knows nothing about the rumoured payment.

There have been unsuccessful meetings between the Federal Government and the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council because of differences in percentage increase in the salaries of workers which made the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita describe the NLC’s demand as “unrealistic”.

Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council,  General Secretary, Alade Lawal, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after meeting on Monday, September 16, that the organised labour would decide on the next line of action towards the issue of the minimum wage, saying in due time, Nigerians would be informed.

He said the meeting ended in a deadlock and that the “Federal Government officials are not serious about it at all”, saying that they suspect a hidden agenda somewhere.

NAN subsequently reported that that the organised labour had on September 12 issued a 14-day ultimatum that would expire on September 25 to the Federal Government for the Tripartite Committee on the National Minimum Wage to reconvene and complete its assignment.

Nigeria closes in on $88 million oil deal with CPDC, to rake in more from royalties and taxes

Amos ABBA
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Nigeria closes in on $88 million oil deal with CPDC, to rake in more from royalties and taxes

THE Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) sealed an oil deal worth $875.75 million with CMES-OMS Petroleum Development Company (CPDC), to provide alternative funding for its subsidiary firm the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), which operates Oil Mining Lease, OML 65.

This development was announced by NNPC’s spokesperson, Ndu Ughamadu on Sunday when the corporation finalised the contractual arrangements in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, ensuring CMES-OMS Petroleum Development Company would provide funding and technical services to the NPDC.

It is anticipated that the project would generate over $6.35 billion in taxes and royalties to Nigeria.

NNPC’s Chief Financial Officer, Umar Ajiya, also disclosed that the project’s scope cuts across exploration, development, production and provision of facilities with incremental first oil targeted at the fourth quarter of 2020.

Ajiya said the oil target had potential reserves of 800 million barrels of oil equivalent with a recoverable reserve of 244 million barrels of oil equivalent, mmboe, and cumulative production of 44mmboe from the Abura Main and Abura SE fields.

He described the contractor’s financing model as an innovative approach by the NPDC to funding its operations in response to the challenging economic environment to fast track development of the NPDCs underdeveloped assets.

The project is expected to ramp up production at OML 65 from 900 barrels per day to 60,000 barrels per day with average production over a field life at 40,000 barrels per day.

Speaking on the financing strategy, the CFO explained that the package required a comprehensive financing solution that would address the complex issues involved in growing the NPDC’s production.

He maintained that the expectation was that the collaboration between the NPDC and the CPDC would translate in real terms to the efficient execution of the scope of activities for the optimal development of the OML 65 asset within cost and schedule while maximizing value to all the stakeholders.

“The collaboration would enhance operational and financial performance strictly guided by the pre-agreed Key Performance Indicators which was critical for determining incentive payment due to the CPDC,” he said.

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